Education Specialist in School Psychology Program Curriculum & Admission Requirements

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Coursework

Students take a minimum of 63 credit hours of coursework. Program competencies are obtained through a sequence of prescribed courses and field-based experiences that all students complete. This sequence is designed to produce graduates who are capable of providing effective psychoeducational services to children and adolescents as well as their parents and teachers.

Comprehensive examination

The comprehensive examination for the Ed.S. degree is the Praxis: School Psychologist. The Praxis SeriesTM Assessments provide tests and other services that states use as part of their teaching licensing/ certification process. Ed.S. students take the Praxis: School Psychologist assessment during the month of March in their second year of studies.

Internship

Students are required to complete an internship, typically in the form of a ten-month, full-time paid experience. Upon satisfactory completion, the student is recommended for full licensure/certification.

Program Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to prepare the student to work professionally as a licensed/certified school psychologist. The curriculum requirements outlined below are the minimum required for the degree. To be adequately prepared for an intended career, the student’s advisor may encourage additional coursework or opportunities which may include presenting and/or publishing scholarly papers.

Core Requirements

Please note, this is a potential plan of study. Please consult with your faculty advisor before enrolling.

Additional requirements

Minimum program credit hours = 63

Graduate Admission

The applicant should have achieved at least an overall 3.0 undergraduate grade point average in prior coursework. International applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process well in advance of the application deadlines, in order to ensure adequate time for processing of visa related paperwork. Meeting minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants are welcome to contact one (or more) of the faculty members in the department prior to applying for the doctoral program, however it is not required.

Application Deadline

Jan. 6, 2025

Summer or fall terms only (spring admission not available)

Application Checklist

Educational Specialist

Applicants are required to submit the following materials and meet the following requirements before the application deadline:

Online application
Complete through the KU Office of Graduate Admissions. If you are planning to apply to both the doctoral level and EdS level, you can save on application fees by submitting only one application to the doctoral level. Then, indicate your interest in the EdS level on the “Are you interested in our EdS program if not admitted to the PhD program?” question. At the discretion of the admission committee, those with strong credentials, but not qualified at the doctoral level, can be recommended to the EdS pool for consideration.
Transcripts
One official copy of academic transcripts from each college or university attended
English translation of transcripts
Official transcripts from an international university must include an English translation
GRE exam scores
Official copy of scores no older than five years; only the general GRE test is required.
Resume or CV

Statement of intent
Describe your career goals; Describe how you see your career goals relating to this degree program (how you see this program preparing you to meet your career objectives); Describe past work or educational experiences related to this degree program; Describe what skills/competencies and experiences you hope to gain in this program; Describe any past research experiences and accomplishments; Describe one research topic/issue that you would like to pursue in this program; Please provide additional information concerning your background, experience, goals, or accomplishments/awards you believe are pertinent to your application.
Online letters of recommendation
Names and email addresses of three persons to be asked to complete letters of recommendation who can provide a thorough evaluation of one’s abilities at the graduate level
Proof of English proficiency
Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency
Financial document (international students only)
Required by U.S. government in order to issue the I-20 or DS-2019
Application fee
$65 for U.S. residents; $85 for international applicants.

Admission & Curriculum Resources

The online application is designed to give applicants the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form. We invite you to explore our graduate degree information, review our student resources, and learn more on our knowledgeable faculty and the vibrant community of Lawrence, Kansas.

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